Aerosol cans for depositing paint and other sprayable materials have been in use for some time. The term “aerosol” as used herein refers to a suspension of liquid or solid particles in a gas. Most aerosol cans are made of tin-plated steel or aluminum. Once an aerosol can has been used and emptied in any of its many possible applications such as for food, beverage, paint and aerosol products, it is in need of recycling. There are over three billion aerosol cans manufactured in the U.S. annually. Many of the products contained in these cans, such as paint products, light lubricants, starting fluids, polishes and waxes, and cleaners, contain substantial amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as solvents and include flammable propellants. As a result, partially empty aerosol cans are treated as a hazardous waste at collection centers, military bases, industries utilizing large quantities of aerosols, and treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. Typically, an aerosol package consists of a pressurized liquid product packaged inside a hermetically sealed can that is dispensed through a push button spray tip/valve combination. The pressure is created in the aerosol can via a propellant that atomizes the chemical contents and creates the force to easily dispense the product through the valve/tip in a cost effective manner. The spray delivery which is efficient and effective is commonly used across a wide array of products. The hermetic seal saves the product from contamination during storage.
Some specialized products use a bag or container inside a pressurized can. The liquid product is stored inside the bag and the propellant is inside the space in the can surrounding the bag. The propellant creates pressure on the bag to force the product through the spray tip/valve system for use. This type of aerosol packaging can be expensive and redundant and is typically used in creams and lotions. Given the public's concern about solid waste disposal, the aerosol industry teamed with the steel industry to promote the collection of empty aerosol cans in recycling programs nationwide. Thousands of communities now include aerosol product recycling in both household residential and curbside buy-back and drop-off programs. However, solid waste management firms are questioning the potential safety hazards of processing even ‘empty’ aerosols. This safety question is primarily due to the highly flammable propellants still contained in many cans even when the liquid contents are discharged.
There have been extensive efforts to find alternative solutions to aerosol cans, many of which have proven unsatisfactory. The use of aerosol bags without the can is an option that has not been previously addressed in the prior art. The rigid exterior of a can has been considered essential because of safety concerns for a user in the event that an aerosol bag bursts, causing injury from the propellant materials contained inside the can, or the possibility of fire fueled by these materials. An enormous amount of resources are expended to manufacture cans, collect empty cans, and recycle the empty cans. As a result, it would be highly beneficial to find a solution for deploying aerosol bags but without the can and the propellant. Such a solution would eliminate flammability concerns during dispensing, while still providing the performance results of a spray can application.
The present invention is a system that utilizes a flexible, crushable container similar to the type of container used in some aerosol products, although in this case without a surrounding can and propellant. A dispenser having an elongated housing is provided for receiving the bag. The dispenser is a gun type device that uses a plunger to apply force to the bottom of the bag while the top of the bag with the valve and spray tip is held securely in a slot or valve seat in the other end of the housing. The force exerted by the plunger within the housing creates the hydrostatic pressure inside the bag needed to spray the product through the valve and spray tip. A first trigger and handle on the device are squeezed together to exert force on the plunger. This, in turn, compresses a container spring creating the hydrostatic pressure inside the bag. The user then pulls a second trigger, which activates the valve and dispenses the product. As the product is dispensed, the bag collapses and the container spring extends to its free length. At this point there is little or no pressure on the bag. In a mechanical version of the system, the user renews the cycle by squeezing the first trigger and handle to move the plunger while compressing the container spring and re-creating the hydrostatic pressure needed to dispense remaining product from the bag. The user again pulls the second trigger to dispense the product. This cycle is repeated until the bag is emptied.
For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it functions, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show preferred embodiments of the present invention in which:
The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Throughout
Container 105 is sealed, and is filled with a sprayable liquid material such as paint. At one end of container 105 is a cap area that has a spray tip 107 situated at the end of a valve 109. Valve 109 is attached to container 105. Spray tip 107 can be of different types.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5-11, container 105 is placed in housing 103 with valve 109 seated in valve seat 113 that is set in the forward end of housing 103. In
Alternative embodiments for activating spray tip 107 are contemplated and will be apparent to one skilled in the art. In the embodiments shown in
In an alternative embodiment for activating spray tip 107 shown in
A combination of a plunger trigger 127 and a handle 129 is used to apply a load to the bottom of container 105. Plunger trigger 127 and handle are in a hinged configuration that is squeezed together to cause a pumping action that applies pressure to container 105. The pumping action drives a plunger 131 that has progressive ratchet notches 133 along its length. A plunger bracket 134 is affixed to the housing for keeping plunger 131 in place and a plunger spring biases the plunger in position relative to housing bracket 134. Pressure on container 105 can be re-applied as plunger 131 moves along its length and is re-engaged in the progressive notches as needed when pressure inside container 105 drops below an acceptable level. By repeatedly squeezing plunger trigger 127, a piston spring 135 that sits between housing 103 and plunger bracket 134 is compressed and pressed forward against a piston (or force platen) 137. Piston 137 is substantially flat on both sides and being of large enough width and mass to apply pressure on container 105 while maintaining its shape. The front surface 139 of piston 137 presses against a bottom surface 141 of container 105 with piston 137 being held in place by a surrounding interior surface 143 of housing 103. It is contemplated that during use of dispenser 101, a user alternates between pulling spray trigger 123 to dispense the contents of container 105 as needed, and pumping plunger trigger 127 to restore pressure to container 105.
A configuration for ratcheting plunger 131 is shown in
A description of the operation of the biased-spring 145 is as follows: handle 129 is depressed in the direction of arrow 153, pivoting about pivot pin 155 so that driving pin 151 moves the lower edge of jam plate 147 forward, toward housing 103. This causes the jam plate to cant so that it jams on one of the notches 133 along the length of plunger 131. Then, as plunger trigger 127 is moved further in the direction of arrow 153, jam plate 147 and plunger 131 move together towards housing 103.
When plunger trigger 127 is released it moves in the direction of arrow 155, as shown in
The action of plunger 131 drives piston 137 against bottom surface 141 of container 105 crushing it from the bottom up as piston 137 moves along inside housing 103. As noted above, piston 137 is preferably a solid disk shape with a width large enough to prevent it from bending or otherwise causing it to become misshapen as it exerts force on container 105. Piston 137 may be made of metal, plastic or other materials that hold their shape. The operative features of piston 137 will now be described.
As described above, operation of plunger trigger 127 in the direction of arrow 153 moves plunger 131 while simultaneously compressing piston spring 135 from the plunger side and allowing piston spring 135 to extend in the direction of piston 137 to push piston 137 against bottom surface 141 of container 105. As shown in
While forming housing 103 and piston 137 in a cylindrical shape has been proven to work, it is also possible that housing 103 and piston 137 could take on other shapes provided they are compatible. Interior surface 143 of housing 103 functions as a guide for piston 137 as the sidewalls of piston 137 contact interior surface 143 during operation of dispenser 101. It should also be noted that housing 103 works best when fully enclosed. One embodiment that is shown in the figures includes hinged panel 111 that is closed once container 105 is seated within housing 103. A hinge works well to ensure proper positioning of panel 111 and to prevent loss of panel 111 when it is open during loading of container 105. However, panel 111 could be removable without a hinge using tabs or other components to keep it in place. Or, slots could be cut in the side of housing 103 to allow the user to have a view of container 105 during operation so that a user can determine when container 105 is empty or nearly empty.
Once plunger 131 is locked in place, jam plate 147 engages one of notches 133 along plunger 131 and container 105 is under pressure from piston 137 as it exerts force against bottom surface 141 of container 105. Container 105 is ready to release its contents through spray tip 107 as shown in
To operate spray tip 107, a user pulls spray trigger 123 as shown in
While the invention has been described with respect to the figures, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Any variation and derivation from the above description and drawings are included in the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. For example, in the alternative, dispenser 101 may be implemented using an electric or battery powered plunger and piston arrangement that may be adapted for use from the description of U.S. Pat. No. 6,123,235 to Hsu which is incorporated by reference herein. A battery powered plunger and piston of the type described by Hsu would eliminate the need to manually ratchet the plunger and piston configuration of the present invention. It is also possible to use a pump 161 and air bladder 159 in combination as shown in
Provisional application No. 61/270,568 filed on Jul. 10, 2009; provisional application No. 61/270,620 filed on Jul. 10, 2009; and, provisional application No. 61/270,621 filed on Jul. 10, 2009.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20110006076 A1 | Jan 2011 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61270568 | Jul 2009 | US | |
61270620 | Jul 2009 | US | |
61270621 | Jul 2009 | US |